65 of the Best Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
"It's the most wonderful time of the year"
Michael Ochs Archives/James Devane/Samir Hussein/Getty Images
The holiday season is officially upon us, which means it’s time to start curating (or updating) a dedicated Christmas playlist. Whether you’re thinking about family visits, planning a holiday party, starting your shopping list, whipping up some winter cocktails, enjoying a fancy dinner or simply looking to get into the Christmas spirit, there’s just something about the following songs that are guaranteed to have you feeling festive.
I've researched, polled people and debated the best holiday ballads, love songs, kids tracks, non-traditional hip hop jams and top ten Christmas songs from our favorite singers—from “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey to “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby—to ensure there are a few songs for every occasion this season.
So, without further ado, here are 65 of the best Christmas songs you’ll be playing on repeat for the whole month of December.
2. ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ By Bing Crosby (1945)
- Genre: Jazz
- Run Time: 2:55
Michael Bublé also released a gorgeous rendition in 2003...but Crosby still holds the number one spot in my book, not to mention a consistently higher position in the Billboard Hot 100.
3. ‘A Holly Jolly Christmas’ By Burl Ives (1965)
- Genre: Classical
- Run Time: 2:15
This one was actually written by Jewish Composer Johnny Marks. Surprisingly, Marks went on to write a handful of other popular Christmas songs, including “Run Rudolph Run.”
4. ‘Santa Baby’ By Eartha Kitt (1953)
- Genre: Vocal/Easy Listening
- Run Time: 3:26
Not only is it the ultimate anthem about what women really want for Christmas, the song also jump-started Kitt to fame.
6. ‘Fairytale Of New York’ By The Pogues (1988)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 4:32
According to The Guardian, the song was created on a wager made by Elvis Costello. Per the outlet, Costello bet Shane MacGowan that he couldn't write a Christmas duet to sing with bass player Cait O'Riordan. I bet he’s happy he took that one, since this is possibly the best (and funniest) Christmas song of all time.
9. ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ By Paul Mccartney (1980)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 3:47
McCartney wrote this one about his own experience and feelings about the most wonderful time of the year. And I would have to agree with him, though the song itself has divided music critics over the years.
12. ‘Run Rudolph Run’ By Chuck Berry (1969)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 2:45
The track was used in the 1990 movie Home Alone during the dramatic airport scene where the family rushes past security and almost misses their flight. Minus little Kevin, of course.
13. ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’ By Bing Crosby (1986)
- Genre: Holiday
- Run Time: 2:45
The lyrics were written by Gloria Shayne Baker in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the USSR was spotted constructing bases for ballistic nuclear missiles in Cuba. It was essentially written as a cry for peace.
14. ‘Sleigh Ride’ By The Ronettes (1963)
- Genre: Light
- Run Time: 3:01
The American girl group managed to land their cover of the song on the Billboard's Top Ten U.S. Holiday 100 (multiple times). And did we mention it earned the 26th spot in the Hot 100 back in 2018?
16. ‘Mistletoe’ By Justin Bieber (2011)
One of the newer songs on this list, “Mistletoe” isn’t just a favorite of pre-teens (now adults) with Bieber fever. The song instantly became a hit and now makes its way onto radios and karaoke machines every year.
19. ‘Silver Bells’ By Bing Crosby (1951)
- Genre: Holiday
- Run Time: 3:02
This number was originally sung by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the 1950s film The Lemon Drop Kid. A year later, Crosby recorded his version.
20. ‘Here Comes Santa Clause’ By Gene Autry (1947)
- Genre: Folk
- Run Time: 2:30
Rumor has it that Autry got the idea for the song after riding in the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade in Los Angeles. Per Song Facts, while Autry was riding close to the big man himself, all he could hear were kids chanting “Here comes Santa Claus.”
21. ‘8 Days Of Christmas’ By Destiny’s Child (1999)
Their album of the same name tends to not get the recognition it deserves. But this song in particular (think of it as a 21st century “12 Days of Christmas”) is sure to get stuck in your head.
24. ‘Frosty The Snowman’ By Gene Autry (1947)
- Genre: Folk
- Run Time: 2:53
Although it’s not the original, there’s just something about Autry’s country voice that adds a little something extra to this tune you’ve been singing your whole life.
25. ‘Believe’ By Josh Groban (2004)
- Genre: Contemporary
- Run Time: 4:18
Why yes, this is the one featured in the popular animated film, The Polar Express. Remove the uncanny valley visuals of the movie, and you have a heartfelt Christmas classic with holiday spirit to spare.
26. ‘Blue Christmas’ By Elvis Presley (1957)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 2:09
Elvis recorded “Blue Christmas” in 1957 for his Christmas Album, but didn’t release it as a single until 1964. Four years later, he performed it for the first time on the TV special, Elvis.
27. ‘Silent Night’ By Celtic Woman (2006)
- Genre: Contemporary
- Run Time: 3:25
These four Irish women have such powerful voices that they can make me want to listen to a 19th century Austrian Christmas carol on repeat.
32. ‘Feliz Navidad’ By José Feliciano (1970)
Different language, same message. This song, from the Puerto Rican artist José Feliciano, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010, though it was playing on repeat during the holiday season for decades prior.
33. ‘Happy Xmas’ By John Lennon And Yoko Ono (1971)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 3:34
Also popularly known as “The War is Over,” Lennon and Ono enlisted the help of the Harlem Community Choir for this one. The end result is a characteristically political spin on the holiday spirit.
36. ‘Christmas In Hollis’ By Run Dmc (1987)
- Genre: Hip Hop
- Run Time: 2:58
Here, a refreshing change from the saccharine Christmas tunes that play on repeat in every store. The music video for this hip hop holiday song, about the group’s run in with Santa in Queens, is also quite entertaining.
37. ‘Joy To The World’ By Aretha Franklin (2006)
- Genre: Soul
- Run Time: 3:02
As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. And Frankin’s upbeat and soulful version just made it even more popular.
38. ‘Underneath The Tree’ By Kelly Clarkson (2013)
Leave it to the American Idol alum to release her own holiday original that (not-surprisingly) became a holiday pop staple. It reached number eight on the Billboard Global 200 and was named the most popular holiday song of the 21st century by the ASCAP.
41. ‘Last Christmas’ By Wham (1986)
Even though George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley released this song in the ’80s, it didn't hit the top of the charts until 2017.
43. ‘Christmas’ By Darlene Love (1963)
- Genre: Soul
- Run Time: 2:46
Love sang her hit, which is also referred to as “Baby Please Come Home,” for 28 straight years in a row on the David Letterman show. Letterman even dubbed her the “Queen of Christmas.”
44. ‘The Chipmunk Song’ By Alvin & The Chipmunks (1959)
- Genre: Children's
- Run Time: 2:21
Sure, many find the chipmunks to be, well, annoying. But there’s simply something about when Alvin hits his high note that has kids and parents alike singing along to the tune.
45. ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ By Dolly Parton (1982)
- Genre: Country
- Run Time: 3:37
Even though the song was originally written by composer and lyricist Carol Hall for a play (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas), I love the attitude. Plus, who says you can’t keep it real, country-style, at Christmas?
49. ‘No Place Like Home For The Holidays’ By Perry Como (1959)
You're practically guaranteed to hear this at least twice during every trip to the mall this holiday season. So, while you may know this tune well, here's a fun fact you may not be aware of: Perry Como was famous for his numerous Christmas specials, one of which was filmed at the Vatican with special permission from Pope Paul VI.
51. ‘Happy Holiday’ By Peggy Lee (1965)
- Genre: Jazz
- Run Time: 1:55
Originally performed by (you guessed it) Bing Crosby in the movie Holiday Inn, there’s just something about Lee’s version that gets us in the mood to do our Christmas shopping.
53. ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight’ By The Band (1977)
- Genre: Rock
- Run Time: 3:38
Written by Robbie Robertson, the song was originally recorded in 1975, but it did not appear on The Band's 1975 album, Northern Lights, Southern Cross. In fact, it was re-recorded and later landed a spot on their 1977 album, Island.
59. ‘Christmas Tree Farm’ By Taylor Swift (2021)
Listen as Taylor Swift takes you down memory lane, reminiscing about her time living on a Christmas tree farm. She casually dropped it outside of an album release after consulting her cats (who failed to weigh in on whether she should wait a year to "officially" release it), and just before the release of the movie she starred in, Cats. It’s safe to say that Swifties everywhere consider it a modern Christmas classic.
62. ‘This Christmas’ By Christina Aguilera (2000)
While there are several renditions of this Christmas staple, this pop diva's version takes the cake. In fact, it was her fifth song to break the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.
64. ‘Warm In December’ By Samara Joy (2022)
- Genre: Jazz
- Run Time: 4:13
Grab your mug of cocoa and snuggle by the fire with someone special while listening to the smooth stylings of jazz vocalist Samara Joy. Yep, this one is a recipe for holiday romance.
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